The Hunter's Craft
Confessions of a Serial Killer
by Stephen Van Olsen
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Pub Date 18 May 2025 | Archive Date 10 Apr 2026
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Description
The Hunter's Craft is a psychological thriller told entirely in the voice of a serial killer, not as confession, but as manifesto. Structured as a series of responses to hypothetical questions, the novel takes readers inside the mind of a methodical predator as he traces his own evolution: from emotional detachment in early life, to his first "accidental" kill, to the cold refinement of a process he has come to think of as a craft.
Disturbing and compulsively readable, the book offers a fictional but deeply authentic-feeling portrait of a psychopath, one that resists easy condemnation by forcing the reader to follow his logic, step by step, to its inevitable conclusions. Themes of trauma, control, addiction, and rationalization surface not through analysis but through the killer's own unfiltered self-assessment.
Written in an intimate, unwavering first person, The Hunter's Craft will appeal to readers of Mindhunter, American Psycho, and The Silence of the Lambs, and to anyone drawn to fiction that takes the darker corners of human psychology seriously.
A Note From the Publisher
This is the first book in a series. The upcoming follow-up thriller, Ghost Hauler: Fifty Teeth, expands the universe from a different vantage point, making the two books companion reads that reward readers of both.
Please note: this book contains graphic descriptions of violence, psychological manipulation, and disturbing ideation. It is intended for mature readers of dark psychological fiction.
The Hunter's Craft has received a 5-star review from Readers' Favorite, which noted it "felt so realistic that I had to double-check to confirm it was not based on real events."
Advance Praise
"Although it is a work of fiction, it felt so realistic that I had to double-check to confirm it was not based on real events. The detached tone reflects the cold, methodical thought process of a killer. It resembles a diary of confessions, and at certain moments, I found myself compelled to feel empathy... The plot was skillfully constructed and stayed with me long after I completed the book."
Readers' Favorite ★★★★★
Marketing Plan
Marketing Plan — The Hunter's Craft
Stephen Van Olsen
Publication & Format
Available in ebook, audiobook and print via Amazon. Actively seeking reviews ahead of a targeted promotional push on Amazon and other retail platforms.
Existing Coverage
5-star review from Readers' Favorite, one of the largest book review platforms for independent authors.
Author Platform
Stephen Van Olsen is the pen name of a working long-haul truck driver, which lends direct authenticity to the fiction. Author websites: thehunterscraft.com and stephenvanolsen.com.
Promotional Strategy
- Outreach to true crime and psychological thriller communities on Reddit, Facebook, and BookTok
- Cross-promotion with companion thriller Ghost Hauler: Fifty Teeth, currently in final production
- Targeted Amazon advertising campaign timed to review activity
Submission to psychological thriller and dark fiction book clubs and reading groups
Series Potential
The Hunter's Craft is the first book in a series. Reviewers who engage now will have early access to a growing body of work in this universe.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798282431513 |
| PRICE | $2.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 89 |
Available on NetGalley
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